From The Beauty Brains Forum Member: Taiwanese Gurl

MAC has found an iconic worthy star in French graffiti artist, Fafi, to follow up its collaboration with Barbie last year. Fafi is a tremendously talented artist who created her Fafinettes on street paintings in France to represent the girls that she sees around the world. The Fafinettes have come to represent girls who are unapologetic to be girly, sassy, and fun.

MAC does Fafi

MAC interpreted Fafi’s artwork into this beautiful and colorful collection, MAC Fafi. The entire collection is listed on the bottom in a laundry list style for those who are interested. Base on the colors presented, and the packaging of all the products, the line looks like its only intended for young girls to wear. However, while the entire collection contains a lot of bright colors, but they are mostly on the sheer side, so overall you get kicks and punches of girly colors. The sheerness of the collection makes these otherwise bold colors very wearable for those who are no longer in high school.

Gal pal

The entire collection also looks very inspired by a subculture fashion trend in Japan called “Gyaru.” Gyaru is a Japanese play on the word “gal,” and their style is practically identical to the promo shoots for Mac Fafi! I was introduced to the Gyaru style by a friend of mine, and while playing with the eye kohls in Smoldering and Fascinating, as well as the Fluid Line gel eyeliner in Black Track, I subconsciously created something similar to a classic Gyaru look, which are the big anime-looking eyes. At first I was a bit disappointed by the lack of originality from MAC, but as I thought about it, the more the similarities made sense. Gyarus are unashamed and unapologetic to be extremely girly, and many are fun and sassy, just like the Fafinettes! So as a whole, it’s still a great positive message for girls and women.

My faves

As with all collections, there are some items that you must get, and some that you could skip. I recommend both blushes; Fashion Frenzy, a blue-based pink for cool complexions and Hipness, a coral based pink for warm complexions. Out of all the Paint Pots, the most versatile and wearable is Perky, a shimmery nude pink that’s great to use as a base and by itself. Out of the lipsticks, Strawbaby, a coral rosy red, is flattering on a lot of different complexions, and although it looks very glittery and shimmery, it’s definitely day-time appropriate. Hightop is a sleeper hit, with its purple base and giant blue and green glitter, but it’s surprisingly flattering and easy to wear. Of the lip glasses, Cult Fave definitely lives up to its name. It’s a gorgeous sheer pink that could be worn alone or layered on top of any color. Sugar Trance is also great, similar to NARS Greek holiday with its soft nude shimmer, and is best worn layered on top of any color to make your pout extra sexy.

Glitter quitter

Unless you are stuck in the 80s, you’d want to skip Fun ‘N’ Sexy, a bright fuchsia pink with tons of glitter that just reminds me of a bad prom picture from the 80s. That goes for Totally It too, because that bright pink screams nothing but 80s to me. I have nothing against the 80s, but there are some trends that better left in the past. I am also having a really hard time liking Rollickin’ because the green turquoise color is just so hard to wear.

Stick it

The other complaint I’ve been reading on other beauty blogs is the use of stickers on the packages. Many fellow beauty bloggers feel that it cheapens the product, but I myself have nothing against it. Why? If it peels off, I can still stick it on somewhere with glue or tape, and have the image forever, unlike the cute Tokidoki images that have completely rubbed off from my Smashbox lip gloss!

Fan of Fafi

I hope you’ve enjoyed this long review, and please do check out Fafi’s work at her website. Her talent will definitely amaze you. Also, if there are any MAC stores or counters in your area, check to see if they are having any store events. They are always fun and you get all sorts of great make up tips from the talented MAC make up artists. This review would not be possible without consultation from Angelo; the extremely talented and gorgeous make up artist at the MAC Store in Santa Monica on 3rd Street Promenade. *Peace*

What do YOU think about Fafi? Leave a comment and let us know. Or, you can start a thread and talk to Taiwanese Gurl directly in the Beauty Brains Forum. And if you’re interested in getting free goodies of your own, join the Forum now and show us you’ve got what it takes to be a Beauty Brainiac!

From The Beauty Brains Forum Member: Pas71

I have really oily skin and live in a humid climate, so I was super excited to have the chance to review Neutrogena’s Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation. Not only does it come with lots of great “extras” (SPF 20, time-released anti-oxidants, and the claim that it is actually good for your skin), but it also seemed to be the perfect product for me. I was thinking that it would be a great for providing enough coverage to hide my trouble spots while combating my skin’s natural oiliness, which is, of course, exacerbated by humid weather. Unfortunately, it was not quite the miracle product I was hoping for.

Feeling flaky

First, any flakiness you have will be extremely noticeable when using this product. I don’t usually notice flakiness with my oily skin, but I do get it at times because I use such strong anti-acne products. However, when using a liquid foundation, the flakiness is usually concealed… not so with powder foundations. The first time I used this product (on top of a moisturizer and primer, mind you), my face was a mess! All you could see was what looked like dry, flaky skin. The product and its somewhat rough sponge applicator flaked my skin all over. So, I immediately washed it off and exfoliated my face the best I could. I then tried the product again with better results. If you decide to try it, please be sure to exfoliate well before using!

Tiny texture

Second, it seems the texture of the powder is not fine enough. After applying what I needed to give me a bit of coverage, the powder was very noticeable on my face. This was solved by taking a big fluffy brush and basically buffing it out. However, I was then left with less coverage than I was hoping for and far less coverage than I would get with my semi-sheer liquid foundation.

Questionable coverage

Which brings me to my next point: the level of coverage. Though Neutrogena claims that the product is build able to the desired level of coverage, it is not. If you put more than a sheer dusting on, the texture of the powder is far too noticeable. And, the sheer dusting doesn’t do a whole lot for skin like mine that needs some coverage. I did get better results when using a liquid concealer on problem areas prior to putting on the mineral foundation, but I still did not get the even-looking result that I do with liquid foundation.

As for oil control, this product actually passes my high standards. When using this with a light moisturizer and my foundation primer, I found my skin to be far less oily than normal, even in the humidity! I hardly needed to blot my face while wearing this, which is definitely a plus in my book.

Overall, I really can’t see a difference between this product and a regular pressed powder. In fact, that is what I’ve decided to use it as and it’s doing quite well controlling the shininess in my T-zone that I am used to getting by 10am. In sum, I would recommend this product for someone who doesn’t need too much coverage and whose skin is not particularly dry.

What do you think about about mineral foundations? Leave a comment and let us know. Or, you can start a thread and talk to Pas71 directly in the Beauty Brains Forum. And if you’re interested in getting free goodies of your own, join the Forum now and show us you’ve got what it takes to be a Beauty Brainiac!

From The Beauty Brains Forum Member: Taiwanese Girl

I was beyond amazed to be given the opportunity to sniff and test out 14 different Bond No. 9 perfumes. Yes, you read that right, 14 different scents. Being a somewhat newbie to the scent business, it was a tad overwhelming, but oh so rewarding.

Scent is such a subjective and personal matter. What I think smells wonderful might smell like poop to you. I do want to make this disclaimer first: I’m a sucker for citrus notes and jasmine. However, I think I have a pretty picky nose, and the scents I like are quite universal. Hopefully that’ll mean that the three scents I’ve picked out of all of Bond No. 9’s women’s perfumes are ones that you will all enjoy.

Best of Bond

With that being said, here are my top three Bond No. 9 perfumes in no particular order:

- Scent of Peace
- Hamptons
- Saks Fifth Avenue for Her

Scent of Peace lives up to its name. The scent is so soft, relaxing, and peaceful, that it immediately calms your head. One small spritz on your wrist (or neck, or décolletage) provides a full day of aromatherapy. From the Saks Fifth Avenue website, its “Notes of sparkling, energizing grapefruit and blackcurrant are balanced by the sheer loveliness of lily of the valley, and mellow base notes of cedar wood and musk.” I do love grapefruit, and the scent of blackcurrant is so soothing, this makes it the perfect perfume to wear for a relaxing Sunday brunch.

Hamptons is another scent with citrus and floral notes, combined with a very subtle hint of musk. It smells sweet and a teensy bit spicy, and the scent just lasts all day. The jasmine note really stands out in Hamptons, and like I said above, I do love how jasmine smells, so it won me over immediately. The other notes include lime blossom, bergamot, combined with magnolia, white jasmine, with a touch of amber and sandalwood. I must warn you though, wearing Hamptons to work may cause you to day dream about vacationing in the Hamptons!

Saks Fifth Avenue for Her is a scent that I grew to love over time. When I first applied a bit on me, I thought I was choking in floral tones. Like all other Bond No. 9 scents, Saks Fifth is extremely complex and layered. When I wear this, I end up taking deep breaths every so often just to see how the scent has changed. After a long day of work, the most beautiful and soft floral scent just lingers on my body, making all of my coworkers fall in love with me. Yes, it is that beautiful. I can imagine myself being a beautiful and sophisticated Fifth Avenue woman shopping at Saks when I wear this. Notes include gardenia, jasmine (my favorite), vetiver, and vanilla.

Perfumed present

Since Valentines Day is coming up, I recommend you lovely ladies to nudge your loved ones over to the perfume counter to pick up an iconic star shaped bottle of Bond No. 9 perfume. If you want to splurge even more, you can get bottles with Swarovski crystals on them, to make your vanity table just a bit shinier and prettier.

What do YOU think about Bond fragrances? Leave a comment and let us know. Or, you can start a thread and talk to Taiwanese Girl directly in the Beauty Brains Forum. And if you’re interested in getting free goodies of your own, join the Forum now and show us you’ve got what it takes to be a Beauty Brainiac!

From The Beauty Brains Forum Member: Anonymous Blonde

When I think of make-up I rarely think of my legs, but on occasion when wearing a short dress I have wished for a product to make my legs look more attractive. Pretty Polly, a UK based legwear brand, has come out with a new line of make-up made especially for the legs that hopes to do just that. From this make-up line, named Love Legs, I received the Bronzed Leg Gloss and Moisturizing Leg Shimmer.

Leg gloss

For a night on the town, I chose the leg gloss, which comes in a deodorant-style twist-up stick. The stick is ridiculously easy to apply, and with a slight blending comes out streak free. It is also, thankfully, not sticky provided you let it settle into your skin while getting ready. The color was lovely and subtle, and didn’t come off on my dress.

Feisty fragrance

While I enjoyed the look of the product, the fragrance nearly knocked me off my feet. This product is not for the fragrance sensitive. Were it not for the bronzer, one might think the product was meant to be a fragrance balm. The smell was not unpleasant, but it felt more matronly than the packaging suggests. The scent is very mature; it is reminiscent of the perfume I took from my mother’s vanity as a child. As such, if you are looking for a young, flirty product– this scent may turn you off.

Leg shimmer

The following day, I found myself disappointed in the lack of moisture found in the ‘moisturizing’ leg shimmer. The shimmer was attractive, but my legs were noticeably dry. If you use this product, you will want to apply a generous about of an unscented lotion beforehand. The fragrance seemed less concentrated in this product, which was a relief, but it was still very noticeable and lingered for the rest of the day.

Dab on décolletage

I enjoyed the understated sheen of this product, but when used alone I don’t think it would be very effective at night. Taking this into consideration, I applied both the gloss and shimmer on my legs and décolletage for a night of drinks with friends. The effect was a little overpowering, but the results looked great! My friends told me I looked like I had gone on a vacation, and I found that the leg makeup works just as well all over the body. I was also getting compliments on my ‘perfume’ from complete strangers. I had chosen to forgo perfume because the products fragrance is so overwhelming, but it seems the fragrance was a hit.

A helpful solution

If you have sensitivity or are adverse to fragrance, these products are probably not for you. If you wear dresses but hate stockings, Pretty Polly’s leg make-up is a helpful solution. The shimmer lotion is average, but the leg gloss was very impressive. At £1.49 to £8 for the items in this collection it is worth the price, and if you can appreciate the fragrance you will save money on perfume!

Would you use make up on your legs? Leave a comment and let us know. Or, you can start a thread and talk to Anonymous Blonde directly in the Beauty Brains Forum. And if you’re interested in getting free goodies of your own, join the Forum now and show us you’ve got what it takes to be a Beauty Brainiac!

From The Beauty Brains Forum Member: Anonymous Blonde

When I received the Crystalift Skin Resurfacing Kit with a month’s supply of uses, my first thoughts upon opening the box were how compact the machine is. It makes for quick and easy storage. Additionally, the user manual was easy to read, and helped me feel confident and comfortable about using the system.

Skin resurfacing technology

According to Crystalift, “the Crystalift System is the first and only at-home skin resurfacing machine using the same crystal and vacuum technology, just like professional treatments. With Crystalift, bring home your own personal resurfacing machine whose dual-action process combines both crystal resurfacing and vacuum-lift therapy to help stimulate surface cell renewal, allowing smoother, fresher skin to emerge – in one simple to use system. It’s easy, convenient and takes less than 10 minutes to give you softer, smoother, younger-looking skin for a fraction of the cost.”

Safe for skin

There are multiple settings on the machine to adjust the intensity to one’s skin that makes the product seemingly suitable for all skin types. There is also a safety feature that stops the vacuum system if you are applying the wand incorrectly or have pulled it away for your face. I was initially hesitant to do my own microdermabrasion, but between the easy-to-read manual and this safety feature, I felt at ease.

No nose

The process itself feels like sharp tingles on the skin. It was a little discomforting at first, but after the initial feeling I hardly noticed. Unfortunately, I found the wand could not easily be used over the nose, the safety feature kept kicking it because it was difficult to keep the wand completely flush to the skin. Aside from that, the process was extremely quick, easy, and efficient.

Amazingly smooth skin

Immediately after the process my entire face felt impossibly smooth. This system is remarkably proficient. After the first treatment, my skin was slightly reddened for the next day and looked similar to mild sunburn. When the redness faded, my skin was glowing! For the rest of the week, I was able to go without foundation. This system is amazing!

Costly crystals

The only downside with the Crystalift system is the price. The retail price of the system is $249, but the website has is offered for $199. That said, considering the cost of professional treatment, I think the system is well-priced. The initial system comes with the machine and a month’s supply of uses. However, the cost of continuing with the system is only $39.95 a month if you sign up for the monthly club. That’s about $10 a week, which, when considered, is well worth it! I gave up two lattes a week, and signed myself up.

My pores are less noticeable, my skin is supple, the skin tone is stunning, and I am a very happy customer. I would recommend this system to anyone who can afford to purchase it.

Have you used any microdermabrasion products like the Crystalift Skin Resurfacing Kit? Leave a comment and let us know. Or, you can start a thread and talk to Anonymous Blonde directly in the Beauty Brains Forum. And if you’re interested in getting free goodies of your own, join the Forum now and show us you’ve got what it takes to be a Beauty Brainiac!

From The Beauty Brains Forum Member: Purple Rules

Billion Dollar Brows is a salon that offers treatments for brows and lashes. According to their website, they “live and breathe beautiful brows.” They also sell a line of products so that everyone can have full, natural brows. I tried out Brow Boost, which is a “deep conditioning treatment designed to help restore thin, over-plucked and undernourished eyebrows.” One tube should last a month and, within that month, you should start seeing results. They also tell you to avoid the urge to tweeze.
I used Brow Boost for thirty days on the left side only. I didn’t tweeze either side. After 30 days, there was no discernible difference. Both sides are fuller, presumably because I wasn’t tweezing them, but the left side was no fuller than the right.

Billion Dollar Brows claims the product stimulates growth. It contains an assortment of thickeners, preservatives and humectants, which are all typically found in a product like this. It also contains “saw palmetto lipidic sterolic” and “saw palmetto berry extract.” Saw palmetto is a popular herbal treatment that is used to treat both hair loss and Hirsutism (unwanted hair growth) caused by Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. It’s also used to treat male pattern baldness. It does all of this by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestoserone, which inhibits hair production. Some studies have shown that it can be effective when taken orally but there’s no evidence that it has the same affect when applied topically.

Brow Boost sells for 19.95, which is much less than many competing products, but you’ll get better results simply by not tweezing. If you’re unhappy with the shape of your brows, invest in a visit to a salon and have them shaped professionally. Exfoliating the brow area will make waxing or tweezing less painful. There’s an array of products (pencils, waxes, powders) available for filling in and shaping your brows. If you take the time to learn how to apply them properly, you can have full, natural looking brows and you won’t have to wait 30 days to see the results.

Do you have any favorite products to boost your brows? Leave a comment and let us know. Or, you can start a thread and talk to Purple Rules directly in the Beauty Brains Forum. And if you’re interested in getting free goodies of your own, join the Forum now and show us you’ve got what it takes to be a Beauty Brainiac!

From The Beauty Brains Forum Member: Purple Rules

You’ve already read Cate’s review of Klean’s “The Devil Made Me Do It” chocolate body polish so you know it’s a great product. I tried the Brown Sugar Body Scrub. You’re probably thinking that I got the short end of the stick but I happen to love the smell brown sugar and molasses. It reminds of holiday baking and gingerbread houses. It’s a deep, dark brown sugar smell that seems appropriate for this time of year so I was very happy to try it out.

Sugary shower

The scent is wonderful but the purpose of a scrub is to exfoliate, not to make you hungry while you’re in the shower, and this product does it beautifully. I love sugar scrubs; the combination of sugar and oils work well together to exfoliate without leaving my skin feeling dry and tight, but it’s difficult to find one with the right consistency. Most are too oily and don’t exfoliate well but leave your bathtub dangerously slick. This product has just the right balance of sugar and oils. It has the consistency of the wet sand you would use to build a sand castle. It left my skin feeling smooth and moisturized after rinsing but not at all oily. I used it before shaving, which resulted in a nice, close shave, and I didn’t need to use a moisturizer after. That’s quite an accomplishment this time of year.

By now you’re probably thinking, “This sounds like a great product but what do I do in the summer when I don’t want to smell like holiday baking?” No worries! Klean Bath & Body have a wide variety of scents that are reasonably priced (the Brown Sugar is $11 for 5.2 ounces) so you can buy an assortment. Then you’ll always have one that’s yummy and seasonally appropriate. If you can’t decide then you can join their Scrub Club and let them choose.

Do you like bath and body products that are scented like yummy food? Leave a comment and let us know. Or, you can start a thread and talk to Purple Rules directly in the Beauty Brains Forum. And if you’re interested in getting free goodies of your own, join the Forum now and show us you’ve got what it takes to be a Beauty Brainiac!

From The Beauty Brains Forum Member: Karen

What’s pink and white and vibrates all over? If you’re Sarah Bellum, you probably have an X-rated answer. But if you said the Neutrogena Wave Power-Cleanser, then you may have discovered a fun and effective brand new gadget you can use to clean your face.

According to Neutrogena, it’s called the Wave because it’s “the next wave in cleansing.” Information from its marketing company says it will “take your skincare routine to a new level” by sweeping away layers of dead skin cells. But do you really need to go to the next level? What’s wrong with simply washing your face to maintain healthy skin as you age?

Exfoliation Nation

To answer these questions, we have to talk about something today’s beauty-conscious woman thinks about as part of her personal skin care regimen that her mother probably didn’t. That something is exfoliation. Exfoliation, simply put, is the process of removing dead skin cells from the outer layer of your skin. That might sound harsh but exfoliation is actually a natural process of the body. When you’re under thirty, your skin sheds its dead epidermis about every 25 days on its own. Once you hit 30, however, this process slows down. That’s not a good thing if your goal is beautiful skin. If that top layer of dead skin cells stays put for too long, your complexion may appear dull and uneven. It can also feel rough or dry to the touch.

Exfoliation is an important step in your cleansing routine to expose younger skin underneath. If you do it regularly, you can improve your skin’s texture and help stimulate the production of new cells and collagen. The shedding process also unclogs pores to prevent blemishes from forming and allows your skin care products to reach deeper into the epidermis for better results. Additionally, it provides a smoother surface for your foundation to glide evenly over your face. Simply put, if you want healthy and radiant skin, you need to exfoliate.

Scrub-a-dub-dub

But who should do your exfoliation? You have choices. You can go to an esthetician and pay for her professional services. You can also do it yourself at home using a microdermabrasion kit or a facial scrub. Putting your skin in the hands of an esthetician might be a safe choice but it’s also an expensive one. On the other hand, do-it-yourself microdermabrasion kits can be intimidating if you don’t have the confidence or experience using them. I use facial scrubs, the simplest of the choices, but I’ll admit that I haven’t always had good results. That’s because my skin is prone to redness and excessive vascularity. My experience has been that if I apply too much pressure, my skin becomes red, blotchy, and hypersensitive. This is sometimes referred to as “Angry Face Syndrome,” and believe me, it’s nothing to smile about.

Love the Wave!

Recently, Neutrogena’s Wave Power-Cleanser with Deep Clean Foaming Pads came into my life. I’ve used it every night for one week and now I’m hooked. Here’s what I like about it:

• It delivers the perfect degree of gentle exfoliation that never damages my skin
• It’s fast and easy to use: I just attach a pre-dosed, single-use, textured pad to the top of it, run it under water, press the button, and glide it gently over my skin
• The gentle vibrating motion and tingly-cool foam gives my skin a nice, healthy glow rather than excessive redness
• My skin immediately feels softer and the dead skin cells that were problematic near my nose and chin are now gone
• It’s ultra light and comfortable to hold
• It can be used at a sink or in the shower
• It only takes up as much space as a bar of soap
• It’s been gentle enough for me to use every day

On the back of the box, Neutrogena says this device is clinically proven superior to manual cleansing in three ways:

1. 100% of women showed significantly deeper pore cleansing from its penetrating cool foam
2. Its massaging, vibrating action opens pores to remove dirt, oil, and makeup and stimulates the skin’s surface
3. You’ll see immediate softer, smoother skin after just one use

While I can’t substantiate their claims, I did find the Wave to be one cool little gadget for consistent and gentle exfoliation with a click of the button. It requires a single AA battery included with the starter kit, as well as a two week supply of single-use, disposable cleansing pads. It comes in pink, turquoise, or apple-green color schemes. And the price? The starter kit sells for $12.99 and a 10-pack of refills pads is $7.49.

So now you know why I’m excited about my new pink and white vibrating gadget. Sarah Bellum, on the other hand, might have an entirely different story to tell you.

Have YOU caught the Wave? Leave a comment and let us know. Or, you can start a thread and talk to Karen directly in the Beauty Brains Forum. And if you’re interested in getting free goodies of your own, join the Forum now and show us you’ve got what it takes to be a Beauty Brainiac!

From The Beauty Brains Forum Member: Cate

I received my sample of The Devil Made Me Do It Chocolate Body Polish just in the nick of time this month. Like most women, I love chocolate. I don’t just love chocolate, I lust for chocolate. But fortunately for me I only have this urge for one week a month, but during that week I am a certified choc-aholic. So it was the beginning of that special week when Klean’s “The Devil Made Me Do It” arrived at my door.

Klean’s Cleaning Mission

“Our mission at KLEAN Bath & Body is to share our gift of scentual discovery with others by providing luxurious and refreshing products that are high quality, competitively-priced, mostly natural, while pleasing the body, nose and spirit.”

I love body scrubs and polishes and in the recent past had a horrendous experience with one that was just all around bad. It was so difficult to use and was hard to spread across my body, not to mention the hours (yes hours) it took me to clean my bathtub. Needless to say that one is in the garbage and so is the $8.00 I spent on it.

From the Klean Bath & Body website:

“Our luxurious sugar polish could almost be the all-in-one product you have been searching for. For scent-sational smooth soft skin, buffed to perfection and lightly moisturized, just add Klean Body Polish and water. All of our polishes are made with pure cane sugar from Mexico. We mix each batch by hand, to ensure the quality of each product. Our “flavors” inspire us to continue searching for an even more amazing variety of scent combinations …”

Sinful sensation

One word describes this product. Sinful. It has an amazing chocolate smell that drove my senses wild. It’s easy to use and clean up. I looked for reasons to use this scrub. I probably over used it, but did not rub my skin raw. I used it daily on my hands as kind of a quick manicure and then applied lotion to try and keep my hands smooth. I really despise shaving my legs in the winter mostly because my bathroom doesn’t warm up to quickly, but I used the chocolate body scrub as an exfoliator and my legs felt SO smooth after shaving and moisturized. I used it on my heels, knees, and elbows daily to try and smooth them out. I wanted to take multiple showers a day. After a week, it’s just about gone so I guess the devil really did make me do it!

There are OH so many different flavors of body polishes that Klean Bath & Body sells such as Mango Mandarin, Brown Sugar, and Pink Martini Body Polishes. They range in price from $10.50 - $13.50.

I certainly love love LOVED this product. It would make a great gift for anyone that is into relaxing with a spa like experience without the spa price.

Are you craving a chocolate body polish? Leave a comment and let us know. Or, you can start a thread and talk to Cate directly in the Beauty Brains Forum. And if you’re interested in getting free goodies of your own, join the Forum now and show us you’ve got what it takes to be a Beauty Brainiac!

From The Beauty Brains Forum Member: Taiwanese Girl

I love peppermint. Christmas is great because everything from chocolate to lattes are peppermint flavored, and the world just smells nice and minty. Nothing gets me in a better mood than peppermint. With that being said, I was so ecstatic to find a box from KLEAN Bath and Body containing their Bath Syrup and Whipped Shea Butter in Peppermint Dream!!

Scentual experience

From their website, KLEAN B&B’s mission is to “share our gift of scentual discovery with others by providing luxurious and refreshing products that are high quality, competitively-priced, mostly natural, while pleasing the body, nose and spirit.” If you’ve read my previous review about natural/organic products, you’ll know that I’m not a huge fan. However, looking at the ingredient list and breakdown of each product provided on KLEAN B&B’s website, it seems that they choose to use chemicals extracted from plants, rather than synthesized chemicals. This is slightly different from Origin’s use of natural products, in that they are just using certain plant extracts, without defining exactly what chemical is in the extract. Anyhow, their main focus is on scent, and boy, one whiff of their products will completely relax you, taking your mind off things like chemistry, cosmetic ingredients, and your grocery list.

Bath time and biochemistry

Anyhow, since I don’t have access to a bath tub, I used the Bath Syrup as a shower gel, and it was one amazing and scentsual experience. The syrup foams up quickly, making lots of bubbles (micelles!! Trap oil!! Yay biochem and what little I remember of it!), so it cleans ya up properly. It’s not as moisturizing as I’d like it to be, but I have been spoiled by using Olay’s Body Wash with those moisturizing ribbons. The smell however, completely makes up for everything. That cool peppermint smell has a hint of vanilla in it, evoking memories of holiday parties with hot peppermint cocoa and candy canes.

Rich and dreamy

After the shower, I applied the Whipped Shea Butter all over, and boy, was it rich and dreamy. I love how moisturizing shea butter is, but sometimes I hate how thick it is, and how much work I have to put in just to get my skin to absorb it. This whipped version makes it much lighter, and it absorbs into my skin quickly, without leaving any grease afterwards. My skin just felt smooth, buttery, and well moisturized.

The only down side of the Peppermint Dream is that the peppermint oil used for the fragrance has a cooling effect, so if you are like me, living in an apartment without any heat sources and poor insulation, you would be a tad cold after applying the Whipped Shea Butter. Your body will eventually heat up again, but I do suggest snuggling inside a warm blanket or in front of a heater after you apply the Shea Butter.

Yummy!

Overall, KLEAN Bath and Body offers great products at a decent price (not quite drugstore, but certainly still affordable), and they totally fulfill their mission of providing us with a luxurious scentual discovery. I would love to try more of their Whipped Shea Butter in other scents, such as Fig, German Chocolate Cake (yummy), and Klean Kolada.
What do YOU think about Klean products? Leave a comment and let us know. Or, you can start a thread and talk to Taiwanese Girl directly in the Beauty Brains Forum. And if you’re interested in getting free goodies of your own, join the Forum now and show us you’ve got what it takes to be a Beauty Brainiac!